Pages

Friday, November 9, 2018

Tea Tree Oil - An Antimicrobial Powerhouse?

I came across tea tree oil many years ago in a mall. It was in a Body Shoppe and I thought that it was weird that this oil was supposed to help with acne. At the time my skin care regimen was oil free due to sensitivity. I dismissed the tea tree oil, thinking any oil would make my pimples worse, and didn't think about it for years.Years later I had a bureau that became musty. I would clean it and it would look fine for a while, but then the mold would reappear. It was frustrating and I thought I would have to get rid of the piece. I finally went online and looked up how to get rid of mold on furniture. It was then that I found out about tea tree oil. I purchased some online and diluted it to the proper portions and began to clean the piece of furniture. The mold, as it had before, came off. This time, though, it did not return. Tea tree oil to the rescue. This really was a great find. See below for the recipe!Already having it on hand, I found that it had many other uses. I remembered what I had learned about its use for acne and started using it on any blemishes that appeared. It worked wonderfully. I still use it. I just wet a cotton swab with tap water and drip a drop of tea tree oil on the end of it. Then I dab the swab on any blemishes.

I found that it is also a great remedy for ear aches. I have read some warnings online that have cautioned not putting it directly in the ear canal, so I rub it around the outside of the ear canal even behind the ear. I believe it penetrates the skin and attacks the infection. It's worked great for our family. One thing I should note is that tea tree oil should never be ingested. It is not meant to be consumed.As far as scientific research, the data is sparse. I did come across some research that, while it did not find conclusive results that tea tree oil was effective, said the results that were found warranted more research. As for me, I'll be using it despite the lack of evidence, because, for me, it's proven helpful. And remember lack of evidence doesn't mean something doesn't work, it means it hasn't been effectively tested. The use of things that have been conclusively shown to be false should be carefully considered. But when there is lack of data and you find something that works well for you, go on and use it as long as it makes you happy! Tea tree oil with its distinct medicine smell is probably my favorite essential oil. What are some of your favorites?